Bachelor of Science, Major in Political Science: Pre-Law Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Science, Major in Political Science: Pre-Law Concentration | ||
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 | |
| Component Area II (Mathematics) 1 | 3 | |
| Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) | 8 | |
| Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) | 3 | |
| Component Area V (Creative Arts) | 3 | |
| Component Area VI (U.S. History) | 6 | |
| Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) | 6 | |
| Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) | 3 | |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) | 4 | |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| Natural Sciences | 8 | |
| Math or Natural Sciences 2 | 6-7 | |
| Major: Foundation | ||
| POLS 2304 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 3302 | Introduction to Public Policy | 3 |
| POLS 3330 | American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3365 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLS 3374 | Quantitative Methods for Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 3377 | Survey of Political Theory | 3 |
| POLS 3379 | Research and Writing in Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 3380 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| Major: Prescribed Electives | ||
| POLS Electives 3 | 9 | |
| Electives: General | ||
| General Electives 4 | 12 | |
| Concentration: Pre Law | ||
| Legal Foundation Courses | ||
| POLS 3334 | Judicial Systems 5 | 3 |
| POLS 4334 | Constitutional Law I: Civil Rights and Liberties 5 | 3 |
| POLS 4335 | Constitutional Law II: Gov Powers & State-Federal Relations 5 | 3 |
| Law-Related Skills | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Persuasion | ||
| Argument and Persuasion | ||
| Critical Thinking | ||
| Introduction to Contemporary Logic | ||
| Substantive Legal Content | ||
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Communication Studies | ||
| Freedom of Speech and Civic Communication | ||
| Criminal Justice | ||
| Law And Society | ||
| Legal Aspects Of Corrections | ||
| Police Law | ||
| General Business | ||
| Entrepreneurial Law | ||
| Business Law | ||
| Human Resources Management Law | ||
| International Business Law | ||
| Real Estate Law | ||
| History | ||
| Black Civil Rights Movement | ||
| Kinesiology | ||
| Sport Law | ||
| Philosophy | ||
| Philosophy of Law | ||
| Political Science | ||
| Victims' Rights, Politics, and Policy | ||
| Contemporary Political Theory | ||
| International Law and Organizations | ||
| Problems in Political Science 6 | ||
| International Human Rights | ||
| Psychology | ||
| Psychology And The Law | ||
| Security Studies | ||
| Law and Ethics in Homeland Security | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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- 2
Depending on the course used to fulfill the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics), the department recommends a combination of MATH 1342, MATH 1410, and/or MATH 1420. The Plan of Study suggests four credit hours. Three credit hours will fulfill the DSR for the degree, but students will need to take an additional general elective course to meet the 120-credit hour minimum.
- 3
All nine POLS Elective hours must be advanced. Courses in the Major: Foundation are not allowed to apply in this area. POLS 2305 and POLS 2306 are not allowed to apply in this area. Depending on the courses used to fulfill the Substantive Legal Content Concentration requirement, the department recommends POLS 3338, POLS 3372, POLS 3385, POLS 4081, and/or POLS 4383.
- 4
Depending on the courses used to fulfill the Law-Related Skills and/or the Substantive Legal Content Concentration requirements, the department recommends taking additional courses from either or both of those lists as General Electives.
- 5
As suggested in the Plan of Study, the department encourages, but does not require, students to take POLS 4334 and POLS 4335 after they have completed all other requirements, including POLS 3334.
- 6
Students may use POLS 4081 to fulfill an elective requirement when the course topic is pertinent to Legal Studies.
Notes:
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.
Additional Requirements:
- No grade below a C in a Political Science course will count toward the major.
- Students must have 42 advanced hours; at least 15 hours of POLS must be advanced.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Component Area II1 | 3 | Component Area III | 4 |
| Component Area III | 4 | Component Area V | 3 |
| Component Area VII | 3 | Component Area VII | 3 |
| ENGL 13012 | 3 | ENGL 13022 | 3 |
| HSTY 13013 | 3 | HSTY 13023 | 3 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Component Area IV | 3 | Component Area IX | 3 |
| Component Area VIII | 3 | Component Area IX | 1 |
| Law-Related Skills 4 | 3 | Math or Natural Sciences5 | 4 |
| Natural Sciences | 4 | Natural Sciences | 4 |
| POLS 2304 | 3 | POLS 3330 | 3 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Math or Natural Sciences5 | 3 | POLS 3334 | 3 |
| POLS 3302 | 3 | POLS 3365 | 3 |
| POLS 3380 | 3 | POLS 3377 | 3 |
| POLS 3374 | 3 | POLS 3379 | 3 |
| POLS Electives6 | 3 | ||
| 12 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| General Electives7 | 6 | General Electives7 | 6 |
| POLS 4334 | 3 | POLS 4385 | 3 |
| POLS Electives6 | 3 | POLS Electives6 | 3 |
| Substantive Legal Content8 | 3 | Substantive Legal Content8 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
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Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area I (Communication).
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Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History).
- 4
See Law-Related Skills course list below.
- 5
Depending on the course used to fulfill the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics), the department recommends a combination of MATH 1342, MATH 1410, and/or MATH 1420. The Plan of Study suggests four credit hours. Three credit hours will fulfill the DSR for the degree, but students will need to take an additional general elective course to meet the 120-credit hour minimum.
- 6
All nine POLS Elective hours must be advanced. Courses in the Major: Foundation are not allowed to apply in this area. POLS 2305 and POLS 2306 are not allowed to apply in this area. Depending on the courses used to fulfill the Substantive Legal Content Concentration requirement, the department recommends POLS 3338, POLS 3372, POLS 3385, POLS 4081, and/or POLS 4383.
- 7
Depending on the courses used to fulfill the Law-Related Skills and/or the Substantive Legal Content Concentration requirements, the department recommends taking additional courses from either or both of those lists as General Electives.
- 8
See Substantive Legal Content course list below.
Notes:
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.
Additional Requirements:
- No grade below a C in a Political Science course will count toward the major.
- Students must have 42 advanced hours; at least 15 hours of POLS must be advanced.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Law-Related Skills Courses 4 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| COMS 3374 | Persuasion | 3 |
| ENGL 3377 | Argument and Persuasion | 3 |
| PHIL 2303 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| PHIL 2352 | Introduction to Contemporary Logic | 3 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Substantive Legal Content Courses 8 | ||
| Select two courses from the following: | ||
| Communication Studies | ||
| COMS 3379 | Freedom of Speech and Civic Communication | 3 |
| Criminal Justice | ||
| CRIJ 4330 | Law And Society | 3 |
| CRIJ 4332 | Legal Aspects Of Corrections | 3 |
| CRIJ 4394 | Police Law | 3 |
| General Business | ||
| BUAD 3338 | Entrepreneurial Law | 3 |
| BUAD 3355 | Business Law | 3 |
| BUAD 3360 | Human Resources Management Law | 3 |
| BUAD 4340 | International Business Law | 3 |
| REAL 3365 | Real Estate Law | 3 |
| History | ||
| HSTY 3373 | Black Civil Rights Movement | 3 |
| Kinesiology | ||
| KINE 3365 | Sport Law | 3 |
| Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 4336 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| Political Science | ||
| POLS 3338 | Victims' Rights, Politics, and Policy | 3 |
| POLS 3372 | Contemporary Political Theory | 3 |
| POLS 3385 | International Law and Organizations | 3 |
| POLS 4081 | Problems in Political Science 1 | 1-3 |
| POLS 4383 | International Human Rights | 3 |
| Psychology | ||
| PSYC 3383 | Psychology And The Law | 3 |
| Security Studies | ||
| SCST 3380 | Law and Ethics in Homeland Security | 3 |
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Students may use POLS 4081 to fulfill an elective requirement when the course topic is pertinent to Legal Studies.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.
The BS in Political Science: Pre-Law Concentration is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:
- Analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Critical reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
- Interpersonal collaboration and relationship-building skills.
